112 
JOURNAL'  OF  HORTICVLTVRR  aITD  COTTAGE  GARRE FER. 
Jnly  30,  1898. 
where  no  expense  has  been  spared  in  carting  soil  long  distances  and 
making  up  elaborate  borders,  with  what  result — failure.  And  why  ? 
Because  the  mixture  lacked  something  that  the  Vines  required,  or  else 
contained  an  ingredient  which  they  could  not  tolerate  ;  yet  the  chances 
are  that  if  the  experiment  had  been  made  with  the  garden  soil  the 
Vines  would  have  prospered  as  in  the  case  of  that  at  Manresa,  To 
many  gardeners  the  idea  of  planting  Vines  without  first  making  a  border 
is  ridiculous,  and  of  course  there  are  many  gardens  where  the  natural 
soil  would  not  support  them,  yet  in  other  cases  it  is  nothing  more  than 
clinging  to  custom,  simply  because  it  is  custom,  for  here  we  have  an 
extraordinary  example  of  what  a  Vine  is  capable  of  doing  when  planted 
in  the  ordinary  soil  of  the  garden,  where  of  course  that  soil  contains  the 
elements  necessary  for  its  sustenance. 
The  Grapes  are  not  allowed  to  hang  on  the  Manresa  Vine  long  after 
they  are  ripe,  and  the  fact  that  they  command  a  high  figure  in  Covent 
Garden  is  proof  that  the  quality  is  all  that  it  should  be,  as  inferior 
produce  there  only  brings  inferior  price.  Mr.  Davis  is  watchful  for 
his  charge,  and  no  sooner  is  the  fruit  ripe  than  he  wants  it  off,  knowing 
the  strain  necessary  to  support  nearly  13  cwt.  of  Grapes.  Nor  does 
he  overcrop,  as  the  amount  of  bunches  taken  off  at  thinning  time  is 
simply  amazing.  He  has  reared  his  Vine,  studied  it,  and  knows  what 
it  can  do,  therefore  treats  it  accordingly.  Judging  from  its  present 
robust  health  and  flourishing  condition  there  is  every  reason  to  suppose 
that  it  will  continue  long  after  the  genial  gardener  has  passed  over  to 
the  great  majority  as  a  living  monument  to  his  memory — and  could  a 
gardener  have  a  more  fitting  one  1 — G.  H.  H. 
ROYAL  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
Drill  Hall,  July  28th. 
The  meeting  held  in  the  Drill  Hall  on  the  above  date  was  a  very 
small  one,  hardy  flowers  making  the  major  portion  of  the  display. 
Fruits  make  up  in  quality  what  they  lacked  in  quantity,  and  the  same 
may  be  said  of  the  Orchids,  which  were  very  few  in  numbers.  Mr. 
H.  J.  Jones’  gold  medal  group  of  Begonias,  interspersed  with  foliage 
plants,  was  the  feature  of  the  show. 
Fbuit  Committee. — Present  :  P.  Crowley,  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  ; 
with  Rev.  W.  Wilks  and  Messrs.  T.  S'.  Rivers,  A.  F.  Barron,  T.  J.  Salt- 
marsh,  G.  Norman,  R.Fife,  H.  Balderson,  J.  Smith,  F.  Q.  Lane,  G.  Wythes, 
C.  Herrin,  W.  Bates,  G.  W.  Cummins,  A.  Dean  and  J.  Wright. 
The  first  exhibit  placed  on  the  table  was  of  an  unusual  character — a 
large  tray  of  a  splendid  new  Gooseberry  Langley  Beauty,  the  result  of 
cross  fertilisation  in  the  establishment  of  Messrs.  James  Veitch  &  Sons. 
It  was  from  Railway,  a  large  greenish  yellow  variety,  and  Yellow 
Champagne,  a  small  fruit  of  superior  quality.  Langley  Beauty  possesses 
the  characteristics  of  both — the  size  of  the  one,  the  quality,  as  well  as 
upright  growth  of  tree,  of  the  other.  The  fruits  are  large,  greenish 
yellow  with  brighter  veins,  slightly  hairy,  and  distinct  from  all  others. 
A  first-class  certificate  was  unanimously  accorded.  Messrs.  Veitch  also 
sent  another  seedling,  Langley  Gage,  small  to  medium  sized,  greenish 
white,  transparent,  a  seedling  from  Pitmaston  Green  Gage  and  Telegraph, 
and  an  award  of  merit  was  granted  without  a  dissentient  voice. 
Mr.  Alex.  Kydd,  Gilgarran  Gardens,  Distington,  R.S.O.,  sent  a  hand¬ 
some  well-netted  Melon,  but  it  was  not  regarded  of  sufficiently  high 
quality  to  merit  any  award. 
Mr.  H.  Becker,  nurseryman,  Jersey,  sent  a  dish  of  Red  Currants  The 
Comet,  said  to  have  been  raised  by  a  Jersey  amateur  fifteen  years  ago. 
Bunches  very  long,  fruits  large,  dark  red  in  colour,  and  very  handsome. 
An  award  of  merit  was  granted,  and  a  request  entered  for  a  bush  to  be 
grown  at  Chiswick,  with  the  possibility  after  such  trial  of  a  first-class 
certificate  eventually  resulting,  if  the  variety  is  found  distinct  from  and 
superior  to  all  others  in  the  collection. 
Melons  were  sent  by  Mr.  Temple,  gardener  to  Sir  Matthew  Wilson, 
Bart.,  Eshton  Hall,  Leeds;  Mr.  G.  Wythes,  Syon  House  Gardens ;  and 
Mr.  A.  Bishop,  Westley  Hall  Gardens.  Most  of  the  fruits  were  fine,  but 
not  in  such  high  condition  as  to  merit  any  special  award. 
Mr.  W.  Handysides,  68,  Granges  Street,  West  Newcastle,  sent  a  new 
Tomato,  large,  fiat,  pale  crimson,  said  to  be  the  result  of  a  cross 
between  a  Tomato  and  the  Aubergine.  A  great  deal  of  Tomato  (large 
fiat  fruits)  was  apparent  enough,  but  no  Aubergine  could  be  detected  in 
them,  Messrs.  Cuthbush  &  Sons  sent  Tomato  The  Cropper,  medium 
sized,  bright,  similar  to  Challenger,  also  King  of  the  Yellows,  of 
excellent  quality,  to  be  tried  at  Chiswick. 
Mr.  Rivers  placed  on  the  table  a  bunch  of  a  little  known  white  Grape, 
Gradiska,  a  French  variety  raised  at  Angers  in  1851.  It  is  a  Sweetwater 
Grape  with  rather  larger  berries,  but  more  of  the  colour  of  Buckland 
Sweetwater.  Mr.  Rivers  finds  it  ripen  much  in  advance  of  Black 
Hamburgh  under  the  same  cultural  conditions. 
Mr.  J.  Meindoe  sent  from  Hutton  Hall  Gardens  fruiting  trees  in 
pots  of  the  Brockbank  Plum,  sent  for  showing  its  abundant  bearing 
character  :  ripe  fruits  to  be  sent  to  a  later  meeting.  It  is  a  Japanese 
variety,  and  is  also  fruiting  at  Sawbridgeworth. 
Mr,  T.  J.  Saltmarsh,  Chelmsford,  brought  heavily  fruited  branchlets 
of  the  Myrobalan  Plum  for  showing  its  identity  with  the  examples  sent 
by  Mr.  Bishop  to  the  last  meeting. 
A  dish  of  Newton  Nectarines  was  sent  from  the  Society’s  Gardens 
at  Chiswick,  fruits  of  good  size,  with  a  very  brisk  sprightly  flavour ;  also 
a  dish  of  Rivers’  Early  Peach,  medium  sized  fruits,  from  the  open  wall. 
Messrs.  Hurst  &  Son,  Houndsditcb,  sent  bearing  plants  of  Brydon’s 
new  Pea,  Pierremont  Seedling ;  but  no  award  could  be  made,  as  the 
variety  had  not  been  tried  at  Chiswick. 
Mr,  G.  Kelk,  gardener  to  Mrs.  Abbot,  South  Villa,  Regent’s  Park, 
sent  superb  Peaches,  also  excellent  Black  Hamburgh  Grapes  with 
fine  “  hammered  ”  berries ;  also  good  Buckland  Sweetwaters.  Such 
highly  creditable  samples  grown  within  about  two  miles  of  Charing 
Cross  merited  the  silver  Knightian  medal  accorded. 
Messrs.  James  Veitch  &  Sons  had  a  magnificent  display  of  Goose¬ 
berries,  also  fine  samples  of  Apples,  Pears,  Plums,  and  Cherries — in  all 
125  dishes,  and  a  silver-gilt  Knightian  medal  was  unanimously  awarded. 
Floral  Committee. — W.  Marshall,  Esq.  (in  the  chair);  with  the  Rev. 
H.  H.  D’Ombrain  and  Messrs.  J.  Fraser,  J.  Laing,  H.  B.  May,  H.  Herbst, 
R.  Dean,  G.  Stevens,  R.  Owen,  J.  Jennings,  J.  Fraser,  J.  D.  Pawle, 
G.  Nicholson,  Geo.  Gordon,  J.  T.  Bennett- Pbe,  C.  E.  Shea,  C.  E.  Pearson, 
H.  J.  Jones,  E.  Beckett,  H.  Cannell,  H.  Turner,  C.  T.  Druery,  0.  Thomas, 
and  R.  M.  Hogg. 
Reference  is  made  above  to  the  magnificent  display  of  double  and 
single  Begonias  sent  by  Mr,  II.  J.  Jones  of  Lewisham.  The  group 
formed  a  pleasant  break  in  the  usual  order  of  exhibits  at  the  Drill  Hall. 
The  plants  were  arranged  in  undulating  form,  with  an  uneven  frontage 
that  added  to  the  effect.  The  colours  throughout  were  pleasingly 
blended,  and  many  superb  specimens  of  blooms,  both  single  and  double, 
were  noticed.  Interspersed  with  the  Begonias  were  Palms,  Asparagus, 
Crotons,  Caladiums,  Maidenhair  Ferns,  and  Isolepis  gracilis,  the  whole 
making  up  a  striking  and  graceful  display,  which  did  great  credit  to  the 
exhibitor  (gold  medal).  Mr.  R.  Jensen,  Chingford,  sent  a  group  of  a 
new  semi-double  Zonal  Pelargonium  King  of  Denmark,  the  colour  of 
which  is  salmon  pink,  while  the  trusses  are  large  and  the  habit  of  the 
plants  sturdy  (silver  Banksian  medal).  Mr.  T.  S.  Ware,  Tottenham, 
made  a  large  display  with  hardy  flowers,  in  which  Pentstemons  were 
predominent,  the  chief  varieties  being  Miss  Parry,  Mrs.  Empson, 
General  Gough,  Mrs.  Pegotty,  Miss  Patey,  and  Lord  Hillingdon.  Among 
other  flowers  were  Gaillardias,  Campanulas  in  variety.  Coreopsis  grandi- 
flora,  Lathyrus  latifolius  albus,  Statice  latifolia.  Carnations  in  variety, 
and  Helianthus  rigidus  piiecox  (silver  Flora  medal). 
Mr.  J.  Hazelby,  Hampton,  sent  a  group  of  Ivy-leaved  Pelargonium 
Moxoni,  of  dwarf  compact  habit.  Messrs.  Thos.  Cripps  &  Son,  Tunbridge 
Wells,  sent  plants  of  Salisburia  adiantifolia  variegata  and  also  a  superb 
collection  of  Disa  grandiflora  (silver  Banksian  medal).  From  Messrs, 
Jas.  Veitch  &  Sons,  Chelsea,  came  an  interesting  display  of  flowers, 
comprising  Eucryphia  pinnatifolia,  Pavia  macrostachya,  Corylus  colurna, 
and  Stuartia  pseudo-Camelliaj. 
An  effective  display  was  made  by  Mr.  J.  Walker,  Oxon,  who  showed 
Sweet  Peas  and  Show  Dahlias.  Amongst  the  former  Firefly,  Pi incess 
May,  Mrs.  Gladstone,  Empress  of  India,  Black  Prince,  and  Butterfly 
were  the  most  effective  ;  and  of  the  latter  Warrior,  Crimson  King, 
Glow-worm,  Duchess  of  Albany,  T.  S.  Ware,  Hope,  T.  J.  Saltmarsh, 
Plutarch,  and  Diadem,  were  striking  (silver  Banksian  medal).  Begonia 
blooms,  single  and  double,  in  variety  were  shown  by  Messrs.  Young  and 
Dobinson,  Stevenage.  Mr.  G.  Wythes,  Syon  House,  sent  fine  spikes  of 
Campanula  pyramidalis  albs  compacta.  Messrs.  J.  Laing  &  Sons, 
Forest  Hill,  staged  plants  of  their  new  scented  Begonia  Mar^chal  Niel. 
From  Messrs.  Webb  &  Brand,  Saffron  Walden,  came  a  collection  of 
Hollyhocks,  including  Ovid,  Sunset,  and  Waverley  (bronze  Banksian 
medal).  Messrs.  Jas.  Carter  &  Co.,  Holborn,  sent  plants  of  a  single 
Petunia  Queen  of  Roses,  the  colour  of  which  is  given  in  the  name.  Mr. 
H.  J.  Hughes,  Whitchurch,  Salop,  sent  a  small  collection  of  Carnation 
blooms. 
A  striking  exhibit  of  hardy  flowers  came  from  Messis.  W.  Cutbush  and 
Son,  Highgate.  The  exhibit  comprised  Carnations  in  variety,  Crinum 
Powelli,  Delphiniums,  Acanthus  candelabrum,  Helenium  pumilum, 
Eryngium  planum,  Lythrum  roseum  superbum,  Gentianas,  Senecio 
pulcher.  Campanula  pyramidalis,  and  others  (silver  Banksian  medal). 
Hardy  flowers  in  great  variety  also  came  from  Messrs.  Barr  &  Son, 
Covent  Garden,  who  showed  herbaceous  Phloxes  Avalanche,  Richard 
Wallace,  regulus,  splendens,  and  others ;  with  Hyacinthus  candicans, 
Helianthus  multiflorus  plenus,  Statice  latifolia,  Agapanthus  umbellatus, 
Centaurea  glastifolia,  Asclepias  incarnata,  Coreopsis  grandiflora,  Gypio- 
phila  paniculata,  Tritomas,  and  Gaillardias  (silver  Banksian  medal) 
Messrs.  H.  Cannell  &  Sons,  Swanley,  sent  a  collection  of  Antirrhinums, 
which  included  Golden  Gem  and  Dwarf  Striped. 
Cacti. — There  was  a  competitive  class  for  a  collection  of  Cacti,  in 
which  the  first  prize  was  taken  by  Mr.  G.  Pritchard,  78,  Goodwin  Road, 
Ferest  Gate.  There  were  330  plants  in  this  exhibit.  Mr.  N.  R.  Chilton, 
Palmerston  Road,  Wealdstone,  was  placed  second.  The  number  of  plants 
in  this  case  was  less,  but  the  quality  was  excellent.  The  third  prize 
went  to  Mr.  C.  A.  Blogg,  65,  Brighton  Road,  South  Croydon. 
Messrs.  H.  Cannell  <k  Sons,  Swanley,  sent  a  very  large  exhibit  of 
cactaceous  plants.  Besides  being  shown  in  remarkable  variety,  the 
plants  showed  palpable  evidences  of  high  culture.  Almost  all  the 
leading  species  and  varieties  that  could  be  conveniently  carried  were 
represented  (silver  Flora  medal). 
Orchid  Committee.— Harry  J.  Veitch,  Esq.  (in  the  chair)  ;  with 
Messrs.  Jas.  O’Brien,  De  B.  Crawshay,  F.  W.  Moore,  W.  H.  White, 
H.  J.  Chapman,  E,  Hill,  W.  Cobb,  Thos.  Statter,  Jas,  DouglaS) 
S.  Courtauld,  and  H.  M.  Pollett. 
Only  three  Orchids  were  sent  by  Messrs.  J.  Veitch  &  Sons,  Chelsea, 
these  comprising  Cattleya  atlanta,  a  hybrid  between  C.  Warscewiezi  and 
C.  guttata  Leopold! ;  Cypripedium  Brysa,  a  hybrid  between  C.  Boisseri- 
anum  and  C.  Sedeni  candidulum ;  and  Masdevallia  Ajax.  A  few  Orchids 
came  from  Mr.  W.  H.  White,  grower  to  Sir  Trevor  Lawrence,  Bart,, 
Dorking.  Amongst  others  were  Masdevallia  Hubschi,  M.  infracta, 
‘  Dendrobium  curviflorum,  D.  revolutum,  Cypripedium  Charles  Stein- 
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